Conn. home formerly belonging to Charles Lindbergh lists for $20 million

If you want to own a piece of American history and have a healthy chunk of change to spend, you might consider the former home of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh that just hit the market in tony Darien, Conn. asking $19,950,000 for ” unparalleled panoramic sky and water views of Long Island Sound” and acres upon acres of oyster beds, among other things.

The property includes 11 acres of land on Contentment Island, including more than 800 feet of direct waterfront, 8 acres of the Fish Islands and 34 acres of oyster beds. The three-bedroom house built 1953 is still standing, though the listing from Halstead Property suggests the new owner “Imagine building your dream home in a dream come true location where sunrise and sunsets are daily rites of passage.”

I’ve done a bit of research on the property in the past, for a book I recently published about the Gilded Age on Connecticut’s Gold Coast, and recall that one of the most interesting aspects of the Lindbergh’s life in the home is that it was a very well-kept secret in town. The family purchased the home in the 1960s, with Charles living there until his death in 1974. His wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh continued to live there after he passed away, and none of the neighbors would let on that she was there, largely due to privacy concerns for a family that had sure had their share of tragedy linked with their fame.